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Although there are some aspects of this figure that show promise, it falls victim, as do so many, to a lack of attention to anatomy and scale. Looking at the first profile shot, two major issues are readily identifiable. First, my sources agree that the French bayonet was 14” long. I’m not sure how that short sword got jammed in the barrel, but that’s no bayonet.
Second, look at the right hand and forearm. Unless we are looking at a direct ancestor of Popeye who just downed a can of Spinach, that is one abnormal limb. If you look at the second profile shot, you can see that the left arm is likewise grossly oversized (perhaps he’s wearing a down jacket to keep warm?). Finally, the pack is just too small - you could barely fit a string of garlic in that one, much less equipment, clothing and personal effects.
There are signs of hope however. The pose and general proportions are not too bad. The face is clear and doughty. The torso detail easy to make out (and hence to paint). Clearly this figure was sculpted with pronounced uniform detail - very thick cuffs and straps, etc. This is not my taste, but it is well executed here. Hence the detail will stand out quite well on a gaming table.
While the sculptor for MJ does not fall victim to the gnomeitis that has struck so many fellow sculptors, more attention to relative size is definitely in order.
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